COVID-19 wreaking havoc on Fresno State schedule. But Bulldogs on track to play next game

With the impact COVID-19 is having on the college basketball season, anything can change and seemingly at any moment.

But after Fresno State’s past three games have been postponed due to COVID concerns, the Bulldogs at the moment are on track to resume their season on Jan. 11 with their scheduled game against San Jose State at the Save Mart Center.

The Bulldogs had only three players available to work out Tuesday. But they did have enough for a team practice Wednesday and are expected to be closer to full health by tipoff vs. the Spartans.

Guard Destin Whitaker (foot), however, did not practice at full speed yet and guard Jemarl Baker (knee) remains sidelined by injury.

“Whenever they tell us to play, we’ll try to do the best we can with what we have,” Fresno State coach Justin Hutson said. “There’s not much else you can worry about.

“It doesn’t have to be fair, but you’re trying to make sure you’re fair to your team because not everything is going to be equal. Not everybody is going to deal with COVID equally, at the right time, different players, but it is what it is.”

Fresno State has not played since Dec. 28 when the Bulldogs lost 65-55 at Boise State.

Since then, the Bulldogs (10-4, 0-1 in the MW) had a home game against Air Force on New Year’s Day and a game at San Diego State on Wednesday postponed due to COVID concerns in their program, as well as a home game against Wyoming on Saturday over COVID issues with the Cowboys.

The Spartans, who had to postpone their first three Mountain West Conference games due to COVID concerns within their program, also are in practice and added a non-conference game against Bethesda on Saturday to their schedule. San Jose State (6-5) last played on Dec. 21, a 79-57 loss to Santa Clara.

To play a game, a team must have seven players and one coach available, according to the adjusted Mountain West Conference COVID-19 game cancellation guidelines (a team may choose to participate with less than the minimum threshold of players at its discretion).

If a game cannot be played due to one or both teams’ inability to participate due to COVID-19 issues, the conference will try to reschedule. If a game cannot be played or rescheduled, it shall be canceled and considered a no contest.

After the San Jose State game, Fresno State is scheduled to play at UNLV on Jan. 14, and that game could be in jeopardy of a postponement. The Rebels already had a game at Air Force on Saturday postponed due to COVID-19 concerns in their program, one of three additional postponements in the conference.

Colorado State at Boise State on Friday and Nevada at San Diego State on Saturday were postponed due to COVID issues in the Broncos and Wolf Pack programs.

The Rams will now play at San Diego State on Saturday – the game had been scheduled for March 1.

This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 8:07 PM.